CD Reviews

WOW!!!

Furcifer | Guam | 07/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is just an absolute JEWEL. Zappa fans will recognize Terry Bozzio in addition to the Brecker brothers themselves, and MAN, what a combo! Michael Brecker just shreds on every solo, and Randy finds nuances with the "electric trumpet" that have never been heard before or since. Some will want this for the novelty of the electric tenor sax and trumpet, but there are FINE examples of modern BeBop solos here, over a high-powered rhythm section that kicks and jumps all over everything the soloists lay down. This is the kind of rhythm section that can make ANYBODY sound good, but the Brecker brothers talent is unmatched; a combination that presents an order of magnitude. Bass players NEED to hear Neil Jason, and guitar players NEED to hear Barry Finnerty on this. Blistering tight unison lines will prove once again why Zappa saved his most intricate horn passages for these guys, and why you won't hear them at tempo with anybody else. I sincerely hope for more of this largely unexplored flavor of jazz. I haven't found anything else that quite measures up to this."

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

M. Detko | Scarborough, Ontario Canada | 09/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the most incredible music ever, no BB album has surpassed this. A live album with Terry Bozzio having just joined the band after leaving Frank Zappa. The version of Some Skunk Funk is worth the whole price. Phenomenal! Will leave you out of breath and panting for more. One studio track kind of ok, an attempt at top 40, but the rest is - wow! Line up is guitar, bass, drums and Breckers. Randy plays some organ and uses a harmonizer to add 5ths and 4ths to his trumpet, so it sounds like more than just 2 horn players. Just hard to imagine what this would have been like to see live. Too bad it wasn't a double album when it was released in the late 70's. I want more of this!"

Smoking!!!

Mr. Midnight | Tijeras, NM | 05/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to this album was almost as good as sitting in the "Bottom Line" club in New York, digging it live again! Ah the memories! My personal condolences to the Brecker family... I too will miss Michael and his music very, very much."

It doesn't get any hotter than this

William H. Burman | 08/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"M Detko is right on the money. "Some Skunk Funk" is one of the best jazz-rock tunes of all time. Michael Brecker's scorching solo on that song is mind-boggling. Bozzio never sounded better. This album was made at a time when creativity and complexity in music was not considered crime. If you find this disc anywhere, buy it!"